Roller type switch



Sept. 1, 1953 Original Filed April 15, 1948 F. S. SINCLAIRE ROLLER TYPESWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V IiiII Ii; II 1O nwspu c: u n u n U I 54- I J IN V EN TOR. FkA/VC/J 5 Swan/e5 Arm/awry Sept. 1, 1953 F. s. SINCLAIREROLLER TYPE SWITCH.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1948 Original namin w it. El

' INVENTOR. f/ /I/VG/J J f/mcm/ae fmym y W Patented Sept. 1, 1953 ROLLERTYPE SWITCH Francis S. Sinclaire, Brooklyn, N. '1.

Original application April 15, 1948, .Serial No.

21,191. Divided and this application September'21, 1950, SeriaLl'No.185,940

'6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in roller type switches, and morespecifically to such switches particularly adapted for actuation byindicia placed on movie films or strip sound records. This applicationis a division of my 'copending application, Serial No. 21,191, filedApril 15, 1948, for Sound'synchronizing Apparatus.

One object of my invention is to provide a new and novel laminatedrolling contact switch whose contacts are adapted to be bridged byindicia placed on movie films or strip sound records with a rollingaction and avoiding any sliding action which might tear, dislodge orotherwise mutilate the indicia.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a laminated film orstrip switch in which the contacts are coaxially led out of the sameside of the unitary switch structure, thus leaving the switch surfaceopen and clear for easy threading of the film or strip sound record.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such a laminated filmor strip switch .of simple construction which may be fabricated easilyand at relatively low cost.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows in cross-section one embodiment of a film or strip switchin accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of portions of a film or strip bearing 'indiciafor use with the switch of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of two film or strip Fig. 3 is an end view of twofilm or strip switches, each generally similar to the switch shown inFig. 1, and with an 8 mm. film threaded therearound;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the two film or strip switches ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of portions of an 8 mm. film bearing indicia foruse with the film or strip switches of Figs. 3 and 4; and,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View of a strip switch in accordance with myinvention suitable for use with indicia placed on wire records.

In Fig. l is shown a cross-sectional view of one form of laminatedswitch in accordance with my invention. It includes a cylindrical endcontact member IQ of conducting material having a raised lip I I, asshown, for preventing substantial lateral movement of the motion picturefilm I2. Adjacent contact member III and coaxial therewith is positioned.a second cylindrical contact member IS. A washer I4 of insulatingmaterial is provided between contact members It and I3. A thirdcylindrical contact member I5 is positioned on the other side of contactmember I3 and coaxial therewith, but insulated therefrom by means of asecond insulating washer It. A lip I I is formed on the periphery ofcontact member 15 similar to lip II of contact member I!) and for thesame reason. A central aperture is provided in contact member I5 throughwhich extends a sleeve I8 of contact member I3 as shown. A centralsupporting member, which may be in the form of a threaded machine screwI9, extends through the unit thus far described and is insulated fromcontact member I3 by means "of insulating sleeve 28. Another insulatingsleeve 2I is placed around extended sleeve 18 of contact member II3 toinsulate it from contact member It. A flange 2-2 of conducting materialis positioned at the free end of sleeve I8 and makes an electricalconnection therewith. A nut 23 is secured to the free end of machinescrew I9 to hold the assembly together and is insulated from flange 22by means of insulating washer 24. Portions of contact member 55,insulating sleeve '2 I, and hangs 22 are formed as shown to provide ajournal so that the entire unit may be rotatably mounted in a support 25of insulating or dielectric material. If desired, ball bearings 26 orother suitable anti-friction devices may be provided at the journalsurface in order that the switch unit may rotate more freely in support25 Suitable contacts 21-29 (shown schematically) are provided adjacentthe threaded end of machine screw t9, the periphery of flange 22, andthe periphery of contact member 15, respectively, as shown, for thepurpose of making electrical contact with contact members I0, I3, and I5, respectively, while leaving the operative surface of the switch nnitfree and clear for easy thread- :in-g, removal, and replacing of thefilm I 2. A strip of foil .30 is shown adjacent one edge of film "l2 andbridging contact members It and I3. It is obvious that an electricalcircuit is thus established between contacts '2! and 28, which contactswill be connected to contro1 any desired circuit. When it is desiredthat an electrical circuit be established between contacts 28 and 29, asimilar piece of foil similarly positioned on the same surface butadjacent the opposite edge of film I2 (see Fig. 2) will accomplish thedesired result. Cylindrical contact member I3 may be undercut as shownat 31, if desired, so that the picture area of the film is not touchedand thus any possible scratching of the picture area is prevented.

While not essential, a pressure roller 52 is preferably provided asshown for maintaining film l2 and the indicia such as foil 30 in contactwith the laminated switch. Roller 32 is mounted upon shaft 33, the endsof which are journaled in bearings 34 of supporting arms 35 adjacent oneend of each. The other end of each arm 35 is provided with an aperturethrough which threaded supporting rod 35 extends as shown. An extensionof rod 35 is fitted through an aperture in support 25, and spacer 3'! isprovided between the latter and the pressure roller assembly. Suitablebiasing means (not shown), such as a spring, are utilized to maintainroller 32 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

It is to be noted that the construction of this film switch of Fig. 1has been somewhat simplified and not drawn to scale for the sake ofclarity of the drawing. For instance, film 112 may be of the ordinary 16mm. size and foil 35 only inch wide and 0.001 inch thick, whileinsulating washers l5 and it are 0.005 inch thick. I have found that bythe use of such a foil with the switch exemplified, momentary currentsas high as three amperes can be passed without overheating the foil orthe film carrying it. This large current is more than ample for anyordinary relay operation. Also, the use of a rotatable switch avoids anypossibility of tearing, dislodging, or otherwise mutilating the foil asit passes over the switch due to the lack of relative motion between thefoil and the surface of the switch contacted thereby as the switchrevolves. Furthermore, it is to be noted that by making the diameter ofthe contact members large relative to i the length of the foil, thelatter bridges the contacts of the strip or film switch for aconsiderable length of time despite its small length. This results, ofcourse, from the continuous contact of the foil with the periphery ofthe laminated switch for a large portion of the circumference as theswitch revolves with the film motion. This is to be compared with themomentary contact obtained in prior art systems utilizing spring orfinger contacts.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of portions of a film or strip for use with myswitch, such as film 12 of Fig. 1. As shown, this is of the ordinary 16mm. type movie film and has foil 50 positioned adjacent one edge betweenand in line with two of the film perforations. A second similar foil 50is similarly positioned on the same surface but adjacent the oppositeedge of film i2, again between and in line with two adjacent filmperforations and for the purpose above-described. The positioning ofthese foils 39 and 35 is of course determined by the relative timingdesired for the operation of the circuits being controlled.

While reference has been made to 16 mm. film above in connection withFigs. 1 and 2, my switch is, of course, not limited to this size film.For example, 35 mm. film can be used merely by providing the properspacing between lips i l and II.

My novel switch is also capable of use with 8 mm. movie film and anysimilar film or tape having perforations adjacent only one edge thereof.The necessary modifications for such operation are illustrated in Figs.3, 4, and 5, and for purposes of exemplification only the followingexplanation will be given in terms of an 8 mm. movie film.

In Fig. 3 is shown an end view of two film or strip switches 50a and 5%,each similar to the switch shown in Fig. 1 and with a cooperating moviefilm l2 threaded therearound Since the picture area on an 8 mm. filmextends nearly to the edge opposite that provided with the perforations,foil 30 is positioned on the reverse side of the film (see also Fig. 5).Inasmuch as the film I2 is a dielectric or insulator, foil 30 completesa circuit only through switch 401) and foil 50' completes a circuit onlythrough switch 40a.

In Fig. 4 is shown a cross-sectional view of film or strip switches 40aand 65b mounted in insulating support 25'. In view of the obvioussimilarity between the construction of each of switches 40a and 50b andthe switch of Fig. 1, which is described above at length, no detaileddescription of these switches is believed necessary.

' My switch is also capable of use with strip records in the form ofwires. Indicia may be easily provided on wire by increasing the crosssection of the wire at each desired point. This may be accomplished byforming a knot in the wire at each such point or by affixing aconducting sleeve of larger diameter thereat.

In Fig. 6 is shown in cross section a strip switch 40" suitable for usewith wire records having such indicia placed thereon. Switch 40comprises a cylindrical body 45 of insulating material. having aT-shaped cross section. The narrower portion of body 45 is rotatablysupported in support 25 by means of suitable anti-friction devices suchas ball bearings 25'. Body 45 may be prevented from sliding out ofsupport 25" and ball bearings 25' by any suitable means (not shown). Achannel or notch 45 is provided around the periphery of the largerportion of body 55, this notch being preferably V-shaped, althoughchannels of other shapes, such as square or half-round, may besubstituted therefor. A ring or circular contact 53 of conductingmaterial is affixed to the right-hand periphery of the larger portion ofbody 55 as shown, and a similar ring 50 of conducting material but oflesser thickness is aifixed to the left-hand periphery. Another similarring 55 of conducting material is positioned around and concentric withring 49 but separated therefrom by means of a ring 55 of insulatingmaterial. As shown, conducting rings or contacts 58-55 and insulatingring 5i are beveled so as to form an extension of notch 55. The notch 55in body 45 is made large enough to allow the wire 4'! to lie thereinwithout touching any of the contacts or rings 48-55 in the absence of anindicium placed on the wire. In the preferred form, to insure this, theopen ends of the notch it are spaced apart a distance greater than thediameter of the wire ll, and the depth of the notch 45 is made at leastequal to one-half the diameter of wire 4?. Suitable coaxial contacts52-54 (shown schematically) are provided for conducting rings 48-50respectively and electrically connected thereto by any suitable means, aschematic representation only being intended to be shown in the drawing.When a wire record 41 is threaded around the periphery of the switch, itwill normally lie in the notch 45 cut in body 45 and thus not complete acircuit between any of contacts 52-55. However, when a portion of wire41 having a larger cross section, produced for instance as by means of aconducting sleeve 55, passes over the switch, a circuit will becompleted between contacts 52 and 53 or 52 and 54, depending upon theoutside diameter of the sleeve 55. Thus, by the use of sleeves 55 of twodifferent diameters, both start and stop signals may be placed on astrip sound record of the wire type, if desired, and it is, of course,obvious that any desired number of selective circuits can be provided bya suitable combination of contacts or rings positioned around theperiphery of the switch when used with suitable conducting indicia ofcorresponding different cross sections on the wire. The operation of theswitch in any event is the same as that above-described in connectionwith Fig. 1.

Numerous additional applications of the abovedisclosed principles willoccur to those skilled in the art and no attempt has here been made toexhaust such possibilities. Ihe scope of my invention is defined in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. A strip-actuated electric switch comprising a strip of wire of afirst diameter having a conducting portion of a greater diameter, arotatable cylindrical member having a peripheral channel formed therein,the width of said channel being at least equal to said first diameterand less than said second diameter and its depth at least equal toone-half said first diameter, and a pair of circular contacts positionedon the periphery of said cylindrical member but insulated therefrom andon opposite sides of said peripheral channel so as to form an extensionof said channel, whereby when said strip is threaded around saidcylindrical member, the portion of said first diameter bottoms in saidchannel without completin a circuit between said circular contacts,whereas said portion of greater diameter cannot enter said channel butlies in the extension thereof and completes a circuit between saidcircular contacts.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the length of the portion ofsaid wire of greater diameter is small relative to the diameter of saidcontacts, whereby longitudinal movement of said strip rotates saidmember and produces an electrical connection between said contacts whenthe portion of greater diameter passes thereover, which electricalconnection continues for a substantial period of time due to thecontinued contact between said portion and said pair of contacts as saidlength moves along the peripheries of said contacts.

3. A strip-actuated electric switch for operation by a wire of a firstdiameter having a conducting portion of a greater diameter comprising arotatable cylindrical member having a pcripheral notch with convergingwalls formed therein, the distance between the open ends of said notchbeing greater than said first diameter, and a pair of circular contactspositioned on opposite sides of said notch and insulated from saidcylindrical member, the opposed edges of said circular contacts beingshaped to form an extension of said notch, whereby longitudinal movementof said strip rotates said member and produces an electrical connectionbetween said contacts when the portion of said strip of greater diameterpasses thereover.

4. A strip-actuated electric switch for operation with a strip of wireof a first diameter having a conducting portion of a greater diametercomprising a rotatable cylindrical member and a pair of circularcontacts positioned on the periphery of said member but insulatedtherefrom and spaced apart to form a channel therebetween, the width ofsaid channel being greater than said first diameter but less than saidgreater diameter, whereby when said strip is threaded around saidcylindrical member in said channel, the portion of said first diameterlie in said channel without completing a circuit between said circularcontacts whereas said portion of greater diameter abuts the opposedfaces of said circular contacts and completes a circuit therebetween.

5. A switch apparatus including a strip member, a length of conductingmaterial positioned on a portion of the strip member, a pair ofrotatable annular concentric contact members spaced and insulated fromeach other, the strip member and contacts being so arranged that thecontacts may roll with the passage of the strip member thereover, andthe conducting material electrically interconnects the contacts during aportion of their rotation.

6. A switch apparatus including a length of motion picture film having astrip of conducting material on a face thereof between and in line withtwo adjacent film perforations, a pair of rotatable amiular concentriccontact members axially spaced and insulated from each other, the filmand contacts being so arranged that the contacts may roll with thepassage of the film thereover and the conducting strip electricallyinterconnects the contacts during a part of their rotation.

FRANCIS S. SINCLAIRE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,178,062 Edison Apr. 4, 1916 1,223,771 Day Apr. 24, 19171,852,236 Fenner et a1. Apr. 5, 1932 1,896,647 Pullwitt Feb, 7, 1933

